The New York Liberty suffered a significant defeat, falling to the Indiana Fever 108-88 on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Indianapolis. The loss, marked by a particularly poor third quarter, came despite the Liberty having several days of rest and preparation following travel disruptions.
The Liberty held a 13-point lead late in the first half but saw their advantage quickly diminish. A six-point swing for the Fever, including a 3-pointer by Lexi Hull, free throws by Kelsey Mitchell, and a 3-pointer by Tyasha Harris, narrowed the gap to four points by halftime.
Indiana, playing the second night of a back-to-back with Caitlin Clark on a minutes restriction, then outscored New York 30-12 in the third quarter. Mitchell scored 14 of her game-high 33 points in that period. The Liberty committed eight turnovers and eight fouls in the third quarter, shooting just 5-for-13 from the field.
Overall, the Liberty committed 17 turnovers, which led to 30 points for the Fever. Indiana also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, converting eight offensive rebounds into 18 points. The Fever's bench also outscored New York's reserves 31-14.
The Liberty were without Leonie Fiebich (left foot injury) and Satou Sabally (concussion protocol). However, the team acknowledged that these absences did not excuse their performance. "The Liberty have no excuse," the report stated.
New York started the game strong, particularly from beyond the arc, shooting 7-for-9 in the first quarter. Marine Johannes was 4-for-5 from three-point range in the opening period. However, the team struggled from deep in the subsequent quarters, making only 6-of-23 attempts. Turnovers proved costly, and the Liberty's offense appeared disjointed.
The loss marked the Liberty's eighth defeat in their last 10 games. The team now holds a 13-12 record with two games remaining before the All-Star break.